Red card for vehicles parked in cycle lanes

Cars or lorries parked in cycle lanes will be forcibly removed by councils under plans being considered by the transport department, it has emerged.

At a Commons meeting after the annual parliamentary bike ride Norman Baker, the Transport Minister, was urged by campaigners to use his powers under the 2004 Traffic Management Act to ask the police and traffic wardens to have such vehicles taken away at the cost of the owner.

The police already have powers to remove vehicles blocking highways.Mr Baker revealed that giving councils such powers was a “live and active” issue within the department and that the pros and cons of taking action were being looked at. If ministers go ahead the Government will have to lay regulations before Parliament for…